MILAN, N.M. – Milan Police Chief Carl Ustupski is leading a push to modernize traffic enforcement in the village with the introduction of advanced speed monitoring technology. The department recently acquired speed-tracking devices designed to curb reckless driving, particularly around school zones, and to better allocate law enforcement resources based on data-driven reports.
“We’ve been getting a lot of complaints about speeding on Highway 122, especially during school hours when parents are dropping their kids off,” Chief Ustupski said. “With our manpower stretched thin, we needed a way to increase enforcement without physically being there at all times.”
The new devices, which resemble a typical speed limit sign, not only display a driver’s speed but also capture photos of vehicles exceeding the speed limit. The system compiles data into reports, allowing officers to identify repeat offenders and deploy resources more efficiently.
“If we see a pattern—like 15 or 20 people speeding 60 miles an hour in a 30-mph zone every Friday night—we can focus our efforts on that location during those peak times,” Ustupski explained. “It’s about using our officers where they’re needed most.”
Ustupski emphasized that the primary goal of the program is education and prevention, rather than punitive measures.
“This isn’t about ticketing people or trying to catch anyone off guard,” Ustupski said. “We want to slow people down and prevent accidents before they happen. If someone keeps showing up in reports as a repeat offender, then we’ll have to take action— but the first step is always to educate.”
A similar approach was taken when the department installed Flock cameras, which scan license plates for stolen vehicles or missing persons but do not track individual drivers. While some raised concerns about privacy, Ustupski reassured the public that these speed monitors function in a similar way.
“The data is about vehicle speeds, not people,” he said. “There’s no racial profiling, no real-time tracking. We’re just identifying problem areas and working to make the roads safer.”
A Data-Driven Investment
Milan currently has one of the speedmonitoring devices installed, with plans to install at least one more and rotate them based on complaints and data trends.
The devices are solar-powered, reducing maintenance needs.
“They’re a one-time investment, and now we own them,” Ustupski said. “The only ongoing cost is data storage and generating reports, which is minimal.”
The initiative also ties into a broader modernization effort for Milan’s police force, which has focused on leveraging technology to improve public safety.
“There was some initial pushback when we installed the Flock cameras, but they’ve been invaluable in solving crimes and preventing incidents,” Ustupski noted. “This is just another tool to help us protect the community.”
While the initial focus is on school zones and high-traffic areas like Route 66, the department is open to input from residents about where speed concerns exist.
“If people in the community are noticing a lot of speeding on their street, we want them to reach out,” Ustupski said. “We can relocate the devices and gather data to determine if there’s an issue.”
“This is exactly the kind of situation where the technology shines,” Ustupski said. “Rather than guessing whether speeding has increased, we’ll have real numbers to go off.”
The chief also shared insight into other emerging traffic enforcement technologies, including systems that detect erratic driving behavior to identify potential drunk drivers.
“The technology is evolving quickly,” Ustupski said. “At the end of the day, it’s about keeping people safe—not about watching or controlling them.”
With the first speed monitors already in place, the Milan Police Department expects to see an immediate impact on driver behavior.
“We’re not here to make anyone’s life difficult,” Ustupski said. “We just want to make sure no one gets hurt because of reckless driving. Hopefully, when people see these signs flashing, they’ll think twice before speeding.”
For now, the department will continue monitoring results and adjusting its approach based on the data.
“If the numbers show that certain areas are still high-risk, we’ll increase enforcement,” Ustupski said. “If they show that people are slowing down, then the technology is doing exactly what we hoped it would.”